House Republican Majority comments on Rules Committee meeting

Today during the House Rules committee meeting, the Speaker, elected by a majority of the Democrats, showed his true colors for the first time. When the motion to allow each caucus to independently select and vote for their own leader, Speaker Jasper voted along with the Democrats to oppose this change. After years of allowing the minority party to nominate and select their own leader, Jasper potentially sets up a precedence where the Speaker can select who leads each party.

Upon learning of the pitfalls of this decision, Rep Stephen Stepanek - Amherst stated, "Given the fact that the past precedents of the House, such as the Minority Leader casting a single ballot for the Speaker or a fellow member of the majority party challenging the majority party Speaker nominee, have been violated, I feel this rule change is needed. The precedent has not been followed. We need to put in to Rules procedures to protect the integrity of the House and of the minority and majority caucuses."

The other major change the new House Leadership made during the Rules committee meeting was to suppress transparency by doubling the number of reps needed to second a roll call vote. Traditionally, the House rules required 10 other members to second a motion for a role call.

Rep. Hoell - Dunbarton, speaking for the House Republican Majority Office voiced his frustration over this proposed change in making the following statement: "It is unfortunate that Reps. Jasper and Shurtleff are more interested in hiding their actions at the State House than supporting the traditional transparency given to the citizens of New Hampshire."